Community
Kevin Ostapowicz, a member of Troop 390 in Fairlawn, has earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Boy Scouting’s highest honor. For his Eagle Scout project, Kevin supervised his fellow scouts in landscaping the gardens in the courtyard of Faith Lutheran Church in Fairlawn, the charter church for his troop. He is a junior at Copley High School.
Leon Doutrich of Wadsworth has received the state’s highest award for a nonactive member of the military reserve. He was honored for 11 years of service on the Fort Knox Retiree Council. He retired from the U.S. Army 20 years ago as a first sergeant and joined the 37th Infantry Division of the Ohio National Guard. He is adjutant of the Wadsworth VFW Post 1089.
Claudia Coleman received the 2013 Charles Salem Humanitarian Award from the city of Akron. She was among a dozen candidates who were nominated for their humanitarianism. She was a board member and officer of Akron Summit Community Action and a member of more than seven other nonprofit organizations throughout her career.
Education
Julie Zhao, director of the IDEAs Program in the University of Akron’s College of Engineering, was named the 2013 Outstanding Minority Engineering Program Administrator by the National Association of Multicultural Engineering Program Advocates. The IDEAs program — Increasing Diversity in Engineering Academics — recruits African-American, Hispanic and Native American students into engineering majors.
University of Mount Union Board of Trustees member Clifford Shields, a 1943 MU alumnus, was chosen for induction into the Hall of Excellence for the Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges. He has been a Mount Union trustee since 1967, serving as president from 1987 to 1992.
Hiram College President Thomas V. Chema has been named to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the unified national voice of more than 1,000 member institutions and associations.
New members to the board of trustees for the University of Mount Union are:
John J. Flynn, an attorney with Keith Flynn in Kent; Laurence Talley, a senior manager, certified public accountant and certified internal auditor at Ernst & Young; and Gretchen L. Schuler, vice president of insurance-risk management and technical documentation at Invacare Corp. All graduated from Mount Union.
Military
Sergio V. Capotosto was promoted to master sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He graduated from Tallmadge High School in 1995 and joined the Marine Corps in 1996. He is the son of Fred and Rosemary Capotosto of Tallmadge.
Marine Corps Pvt. Zachary J. Wagner, son of Shannon K. McPeak and David L. Wagner, both of Akron, graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. He is a 2012 graduate of Ellet High School in Akron.
Marine Corps Pfc. Jyordan J. Smith, son of Lavetta M. and Joseph Smith of Akron, graduated from recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, S.C. He is a 2012 graduate of James A. Garfield High School.
Navy Constructionman Melanie L. Hamilton, daughter of Melinda and Mark Hamilton of Akron, was among the sailors awarded the Naval Construction Force Battle “E” award for outstanding operational performance of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalions. She is a 2005 graduate of Springfield High School.
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Megan E. Dunton, daughter of Debbie Archer of Canal Winchester and Steve Dunton of Stow, was among the sailors awarded the Naval Construction Force Battle “E” award for outstanding operational performance of the Naval Mobile Construction Battalions.
Dunton is a 1997 graduate of Pickerington High School, a 2002 graduate of the University of Dayton and a 2010 graduate of Ohio State.
Send news of community, school or military achievement to staff writer Carol Biliczky at cbiliczky@thebeaconjournal.com or fax them to 330-996-3033.